Microstructures and interdiffusions of Pt/Ti electrodes with respect to annealing in the oxygen ambient

The microstructural variation and the interdiffusion of Pt (80 nm)/Ti (70 nm)/SiO₂/Si during annealing in O₂ were investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. While the as-deposited and 400 °C annealed samples showed well-defined layer structures without any significant interfacial reaction, the degree of oxidation remarkably increased with increasing temperature above 500 °C. The PtTi alloy phase with Pmma structure (AuCd type) was observed from the 500 °C annealed sample. Drastic interdiffusion occurring above 600 °C changed the Pt/Ti bilayer into a very entangled structure. Some TiO₂ phases were exposed to the ambient between Pt hillocks. In addition, a small amount of Pt-silicide was found near the TiO_x/SiO₂ interface.